Xanthine oxidase with acetaldehyde as substrate (the XOA system) generated superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide, but this system had only weak bactericidal activity. Addition of Fe2+ and EDTA to the XOA system (XOA-Fe-EDTA system) increased bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella typhimurium, although both Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Candida albicans remained highly resistant. Catalase (H2O2 scavenger) and mannitol ( VSports手机版. OH scavenger) almost completely inhibited the bactericidal activity of the XOA-Fe-EDTA system whereas SOD (O2- scavenger) was less inhibitory. Azide (1O2 scavenger) caused no such inhibition. The results suggest the possible role of . OH, H2O2 and O2- in the XOA-Fe-EDTA-mediated antimicrobial system, as effector molecules. There was no correlation between resistance of a given bacterium to active oxygen and the level of endogenous active oxygen-scavengers. .